Waxing Waning Moon Phases Explained

Waxing Waning Moon Phases Explained

Calendars, diaries, notebooks etc usually give dates for New and Full Moons. I’m often asked what is the difference between the two. The answer lies in the position of the Earth in relation to the Moon. The moon travels the same path around the Earth every month, so it goes through the same monthly phases. Different parts of the Moon are illuminated during waxing and waning.In the Northern Hemisphere which is us, the part of the Moon that is illuminated will appear to grow from right to left until it’s full, and it will then diminish from right to left. A waxing (getting bigger) Moon will be illuminated on the right side, and a waning (getting smaller) moon will be illuminated on the left side. There is a point during every month when the positioning of the earth results in the Moon being totally obscured by the Earth’s shadow. This makes the Moon hidden or barely visible in the night’s sky. This is a New Moon. It’s called a New Moon because the Moon is in a New Phase of its visibility. After a New Moon, the Moon starts to look bigger as it becomes more visible. A Full moon is when the Moon is at its brightest and biggest so that we can see the entire shape.
Here’s a date for your calendar if you missed this month: the 21st of April is the next full Moon. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog on Waxing Waning Moon Phases Explained